Apparatus and method for attaching an accessory to an item of seating furniture

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a mounting bracket (100) for securing an accessory (200) to a body (310) of an item of seating furniture (300). The mounting bracket (100) comprises a frame (110) comprising an accessory mounting portion (120) at an extremity thereof. The frame (110) is configured to be removably, fixedly connected to an underside of the body (310) of the item of seating furniture (300), such that, in use, the accessory mounting portion (120) is accessible from a lateral extremity (330a, 330b) of the item of seating furniture (300). The accessory mounting portion (120) of the mounting bracket (100) is configured for engagement with an accessory mounting portion (220) of the accessory (200) to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture (300).

Description

"Apparatus and method for attaching an accessory to an item of seating furniture"Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure herein relates to an apparatus and method for attaching an accessory to a body of an item of seating furniture. The apparatus and method have been developed primarily for use in attaching an accessory, such as an armrest, to the body of a sofa, lounge chair, chaise, or to the body of a module of a modular sofa or modular lounge. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus and method may also be used, for example, to attach another accessory, such as a backrest, a lamp, a media console, or a side table to the body of an item of seating furniture.Background

[0002] Armrests are often attached to the body of an item of seating furniture, such as a sofa, during manufacture, prior to the item of furniture being delivered to the customer. The attachment process typically involves a frame of the armrest being either bolted, screwed or welded to a frame of the item of seating furniture.

[0003] In some cases in which the frame of the armrest is configured to be bolted or screwed to the frame of the item of furniture, the armrest may be disconnected from the frame of the item of furniture to allow the armrest and item of furniture to be arranged so as to occupy less space and therefore facilitate their transport and delivery. In such cases, the armrest is bolted to the frame of the item of furniture upon delivery.

[0004] To facilitate the armrest being bolted to the frame of the article of furniture, bolt receiving openings are typically provided on the side of the item of furniture that is to receive the armrest. Bolts or bolt receiving openings are also typically provided on the side of the armrest that, when attached, faces toward the body of the item of furniture, with the bolts or bolt receiving openings of the armrest being configured to align with the bolt receiving openings of the item of furniture, in use. Being on the sideof the item of furniture and armrest, the bolt receiving openings and / or bolts are visible on the armrest and article of furniture when the armrest is detached from the item of furniture. Typically, the bolt receiving openings or bolts extend through the upholstery of the respective armrest or item of furniture. Accordingly, the appearance of the article of furniture is negatively affected if used without the armrest, due to the bolt receiving openings and / or bolts being visible when the armrest is removed.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.Summary

[0006] It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus for attaching components to an item of seating furniture without the use of bolts and / or via a “hidden” or obscured connection.

[0007] Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a mounting bracket for securing an accessory to a body of an item of seating furniture, the mounting bracket comprising: a frame comprising an accessory mounting portion at an extremity thereof, the frame configured to be removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that, in use, the accessory mounting portion is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture; the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket being configured for engagement with an accessory mounting portion of an accessory for the item of seating furniture to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture.

[0008] At least one projection may extend from the frame for engagement with the body to facilitate the frame being removably, fixedly connected to the underside of the body. The at least one projection may comprise a plurality thereof. The at least one projection may comprise a projection engageable with a socket in the underside of the body. The projection may be retained in the socket by friction and / or an interference fit and may be configured to slidingly engage the socket. The socket may be configured to mount a foot to the body via engagement of a mounting spigot of the foot in the socket. The at least one projection may comprise a projection for engagement against a flange of the body to limit rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the body. The apparatus may comprise the socket and / or the flange. The apparatus may be configured such that, in use, with the accessory secured to the item of seating furniture via the apparatus, a side of the accessory that faces a side of the item of seating furniture bears against the side of the item of seating furniture.

[0009] At least one foot may extend from the frame. A said foot may extend from the frame substantially coaxially with, but in an opposite direction to, a said at least one projection that is engageable with a socket in the frame. At least one said foot may extend from the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket.

[0010] At least one accessory engaging projection may extend from the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket for engagement with the accessory mounting portion of the accessory to facilitate the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket being engageable with the accessory mounting portion of the accessory to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket. The at least one accessory engaging projection may comprise a plurality thereof. Each said at least one accessory engaging projection may comprise an accessory engaging projection engageable with a corresponding socket of the accessory mounting portion of the accessory. Each said accessory engaging projection may be retained in the corresponding socket by friction and / or an interference fit and may be configured to slidingly engage the corresponding socket. In other embodiments, each said at least one accessory engaging projection may instead be a socket for engagement with a corresponding projection of the accessory mounting portion of the accessory, and in such embodiments, each said projection maybe retained in the corresponding socket by friction and / or an interference fit and may be configured to slidingly engage the corresponding socket.

[0011] The frame may comprise a first said accessory mounting portion at a first extremity thereof and a second said accessory mounting portion at an opposite, second extremity thereof, wherein, in use with the frame removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body at a first end of the item of seating furniture, the first said accessory mounting portion is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the first end, and wherein, in use with the frame removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body at an opposite, second end of the item of seating furniture, the second said accessory mounting portion is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the second end. The mounting bracket may be symmetrical about a plane extending through the frame midway between the first and second said accessory mounting portions.

[0012] The accessory may be an armrest. The armrest may comprise a side portion for abutting a side of the item of seating furniture, in use, and may further comprise a top portion that extends from an operatively upper end of the side portion to abut a seat of the item of seating furniture, in use. The armrest may comprise a substantially rigid frame comprising a first frame portion associated with the side portion and may further comprise a second frame portion associated with the top portion. An operatively lower end of the first frame portion may be configured to engage the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket. The first frame portion may be located on or adjacent or may be at least partially recessed in a side of the side portion that faces the side of the item of seating furniture, in use, and a side of the side portion opposite the first frame portion may be upholstered. The second frame portion may be located on or adjacent or may be at least partially recessed in a side of the top portion that faces the top of the item of seating furniture, in use, and a side of the top portion opposite the second frame portion may be upholstered. Each said socket of the accessory mounting portion of the accessory may be located at the operatively lower end of the armrest frame.

[0013] The apparatus may comprise the accessory mounting portion of the accessory or the accessory.

[0014] Also disclosed herein is a method of configuring an item of seating furniture to have an accessory secured to a body thereof, the method comprising: removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket of the apparatus of paragraph

[0007] above, or any embodiment of the apparatus defined in paragraphs

[0008] to

[0013] above, to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture.

[0015] Also disclosed herein is a method of securing an accessory to a body of an item of seating furniture, the method comprising: removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket of the apparatus of paragraph

[0007] above, or any embodiment of the apparatus defined in paragraphs

[0008] to

[0013] above, to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture; and engaging the accessory mounting portion of the accessory with the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture.

[0016] The method of paragraph

[0014] or

[0015] above, wherein said removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket to the underside of the body of the item of seating furniture may comprise removably, fixedly connecting a portion of the mounting bracket to a portion of the underside of the body of the item of seating furniture that is configured to mount a foot for the item of seating furniture. The method may comprise removing a foot from the underside of the item of seating furniture prior to removably, fixedly connecting a portion of the mounting bracket to the underside of the body of the item of seating furniture and removably, fixedly connecting the portion of the mounting bracket to the portion of the underside of the body of the item of seating furniture in place of the removed foot.

[0017] Also disclosed herein is an armrest, comprising: a side portion for abutting a side of an item of seating furniture, in use; a substantially rigid frame comprising a first frame portion associated with the side portion, an operatively lower end of the first frame portion being configured to engage an accessory mounting portion of the item of seating furniture to secure the armrest to the item of seating furniture.

[0018] The first frame portion may be located on or adjacent or may be at least partially recessed in a side of the side portion that faces the side of the item of seating furniture, in use, and a side of the side portion opposite the first frame portion may be upholstered.

[0019] The armrest may further comprise a top portion that extends from an operatively upper end of the side portion to abut a seat of the item of seating furniture, in use. The frame of the armrest may comprise a second frame portion associated with the top portion. The second frame portion may be located on or adjacent or may be at least partially recessed in a side of the top portion that faces the top of the item of seating furniture, in use, and a side of the top portion opposite the second frame portion may be upholstered.

[0020] One or more sockets, or one or more projections may be provided at the operatively lower end of the armrest frame for engagement with a corresponding one or more projections or one or more sockets of the accessory mounting portion to secure the armrest to the item of seating furniture. Each of the one or more sockets or one or more projections at the operatively lower end of the armrest frame may be configured to retain the corresponding projection or be retained in the corresponding socket of the accessory mounting portion by friction and / or an interference fit and may be configured to be slidingly engaged by or to slidingly engage with the corresponding projection.

[0021] Also disclosed herein is an invention comprising any and all combinations of the steps, features, integers, compositions and / or compounds disclosed herein or indicated in the specification of this application individually or collectively.Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] One or more embodiment of principles disclosed herein will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:FIG. l is a top perspective view of an assembly comprising a first embodiment of a mounting bracket attached to one side of the frame of a body of an item of seating furniture to configure the seating furniture for having an accessory secured thereto, the upholstery of the body being omitted to allow the mounting bracket to be seen attached to the frame;FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the mounting bracket of the assembly of FIG. 1;FIG. 3 is an underside view of the body frame of the assembly of FIG. 1;FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, showing an accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket extending from a first side of the body and an accessory mounted to the accessory mounting portion of a second mounting bracket on an opposite side of the body, and in which the upholstery of the body is shown;FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an accessory for attachment to the accessory mounting portion on the first side of the body in FIG. 4;FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 5 shown attached to the mounting bracket of FIG. 2;FIG. 7 is a perspective view equivalent to that of FIG. 4 but with the accessory of FIG. 5 shown attached to the accessory mounting portion on the first side of the body;FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a mounting bracket for attachment to the frame of the assembly of FIG. 1; andFIG. 9 is a top perspective view equivalent to that of FIG. 1 but in which the assembly comprises the mounting bracket of FIG. 8 instead of that of FIG. 2.Description of Embodiments

[0023] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGs. 1 to 7, there is shown an apparatus comprising a mounting bracket 100 for securing an accessory 200 to a body 310 of an item of seating furniture 300. In the illustrated embodiments, the accessory 200 is an armrest. The mounting bracket 100 comprises a frame 110 comprising an accessory mounting portion 120 at an extremity thereof. The frame 110 is configured to be removably, fixedly connected to an underside of the body 310 of the item of seating furniture 300, such that, in use, the accessory mounting portion 120 is accessible from a lateral extremity 330a, 330b of the item of seating furniture 300. The accessory mounting portion 120 of the mounting bracket 100 is configured for engagement with an accessory mounting portion 220 of the accessory 200 to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture 300.

[0024] At least one projection 112, 114 extends from the frame 110 for engagement with the body 310 to facilitate the frame 110 being removably, fixedly connected to the underside of the body 310. Projection 112 is slidingly engageable with a socket 312 in the underside of the body 310 and is retained in the socket by friction and / or an interference fit. In some embodiments, the socket 312 is configured to mount a foot to the body 310 via engagement of a mounting spigot of the foot in the socket 312. Accordingly, when the item of seating furniture 300 is used without the accessory 200, the socket 312 can be used to attach a foot to the item of seating furniture. Projection 114 engages against a flange 314 of the body 310 to limit rotation of the mounting bracket 100 relative to the body 310, for example about an axis of the socket 312. In use, with the accessory 200 secured to the item of seating furniture 300, an inner side 210a of the accessory 200 (i.e., the side that faces the item of seating furniture 300) bears against the associated side 330a, 330b of the item of seating furniture 300.

[0025] At least one foot 140 extends from the frame 110. One of the feet 140 extends from the frame 110 substantially coaxially with, but in an opposite direction to projection 112, and may be configured to bear more weight than the other feet 140. Theother feet 140 support the accessory mounting portion 120 of the frame 100, and an accessory 200 mounted thereon, and may also support and / or stabilise the frame 110.

[0026] At least one accessory engaging projection 122 extends from the accessory mounting portion 120 of the mounting bracket 100 for engagement with the accessory mounting portion 220 of the accessory 200 to secure the accessory 200 to the mounting bracket 100. Each accessory engaging projection 122 is slidingly engageable with a corresponding socket 222 of the accessory mounting portion 220 of the accessory 200, and is retained in the corresponding socket by friction and / or an interference fit. In other embodiments, the opposite applies - i.e., each projection 122 is replaced by a socket and each socket 222 is replaced by a projection, with each projection being slidingly engageable with the corresponding socket and retained therein by friction and / or an interference fit.

[0027] The frame 110 may comprise a first said accessory mounting portion 120 at a first extremity thereof and a second said accessory mounting portion 120’ at an opposite, second extremity thereof, the second accessory mounting portion 120’ having an associated projection 114’ for engagement with body flange 314’, and an associated accessory engaging projection 122’. In use, with the frame 110 removably, fixedly connected to an underside of the body 310 at a first end 300a of the item of seating furniture 300, the first accessory mounting portion 120 is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the first end 300a. In use, with the frame 110 removably, fixedly connected to an underside of the body 310 at an opposite, second end 300b of the item of seating furniture 300, the second accessory mounting portion 120’ is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the second end. The mounting bracket 100 is symmetrical about a plane extending through the frame 110 midway between the first and second accessory mounting portions 120, 120’.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the accessory 200 is an armrest. The armrest 200 comprises a side portion 210 for abutting a side 330a, 330b of the item of seating furniture 300, in use. The armrest 200 also comprises a top portion 240 that extendsfrom an operatively upper end of the side portion 210 to abut a seat 340 of the item of seating furniture 300, in use. The armrest 200 comprises a substantially rigid frame 230 comprising a first frame portion 230a associated with the side portion 210 and a second frame portion 230b associated with the top portion 240. An operatively lower end of the first frame portion 230a is configured to engage the accessory mounting portion 120, 120’ of the mounting bracket 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the first frame portion 230a is partially recessed in side 210a of the side portion 210 that faces the side 330a, 330b of the item of seating furniture 300, in use. In other embodiments, the first frame portion 230a may be located on or adjacent side 210a of the side portion 210. An opposite, outer side 210b of the side portion 210 is upholstered. The second frame portion 230b may be located on or adjacent, or may be partially or fully recessed in side 240a of the top portion 240 that faces the seat 340 of the item of seating furniture, in use. An opposite, outer side 240b of the top portion 240 may be upholstered. Each socket 222 of the accessory mounting portion is located at the operatively lower end of the armrest frame 230. It will be appreciated that the accessory 200 may be mounted to an article of furniture by means other than the mounting bracket 100. For example, the accessory mounting portions 120, 120’ may be connected directly to a frame of the body 310 rather than being provided by way of the mounting bracket 100.

[0029] FIGs. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of a mounting bracket 100’, which includes many features corresponding with those of mounting bracket 100 described above with reference to FIGs. 1 to 7, wherein corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding features of mounting bracket 100’ and mounting bracket 100. In some embodiments, the projection 112 at the end of the mounting bracket 100’ closest the accessory mounting portions 120, 120’ is omitted.

[0030] In use, the accessory 200 is secured to the body 310 of the item of seating furniture 300 by removably, fixedly connecting the frame 110 of the mounting bracket 100 to the underside of the body 310, such that the accessory mounting portion 120 of the mounting bracket 100 is accessible from a lateral extremity 300a, 300b of the item of seating furniture 300. This process involves aligning projection 114 of the mounting bracket 100 with the inner edge of flange 314 of the body 310 and slidingly engagingprojection 112 in socket 312 in the underside of the body 310. The accessory 200 is then mounted to the item of seating furniture 300 by the engaging mounting portion 220 of the accessory 200 with the accessory mounting portion 120, 120’ of the mounting bracket 100.

[0031] It will be appreciated that mounting bracket 100 advantageously facilitates:• the accessory 200 being mounted to an underside of the body of an item of furniture 300, which in turn advantageously avoids the need for visible accessory attachment means, such as bolts or bolt openings in the side of the item of furniture that detract from the appearance of the item of furniture when the accessory 200 is not attached;• an accessory 200 being retrofitted to an item of furniture 300; and• ease of installing an accessory 200 on and / or removing an accessory 200 from an item of seating furniture 300

[0032] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and / or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of such variations and / or modifications include, but are not limited to:• the accessory engaging projections 122, 122’ of the mounting bracket 100, 100’ being sockets rather than projections, and the corresponding sockets 222 of the accessory 200 being projections rather than sockets;• the accessory engaging projections or sockets 122, 122’ of the mounting bracket 100, 100’ and the corresponding sockets or projections 222 of the accessory 200 extending laterally rather than vertically, and terminating adjacent, at, or inboard of the associated lateral extremity 330a, 330b of the item of seating furniture 300; and / or• the accessory 200 may be an item other than an armrest, such as a backrest, a side table, a lamp, a media console, a shelf or shelves.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising a mounting bracket for securing an accessory to a body of an item of seating furniture, the mounting bracket comprising: a frame comprising an accessory mounting portion at an extremity thereof, the frame configured to be removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that, in use, the accessory mounting portion is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture; the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket being configured for engagement with an accessory mounting portion of an accessory for the item of seating furniture to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one projection extending from the frame for engagement with the body to facilitate the frame being removably, fixedly connected to the underside of the body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the at least one projection comprises a projection engageable with a socket in the underside of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises the socket and the socket is configured to mount a foot to the body via engagement of a mounting spigot of the foot in the socket.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one projection comprises a projection for engagement against a flange of the body to limit rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, being configured such that, in use, with the accessory secured to the item of seating furniture via the apparatus, a side of the accessory that faces a side of the item of seating furniture bears against the side of the item of seating furniture.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises the flange.

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one foot extends from the frame.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 8, comprising a foot that extends from the frame substantially coaxially with, but in an opposite direction to, a said at least one projection that is engageable with a socket in the frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 or claim 10, comprising at least one said foot that extends from the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket comprises at least one accessory engaging projection or socket for engagement with the accessory mounting portion of the accessory to facilitate the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket being engageable with the accessory mounting portion of the accessory to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one accessory engaging projection or socket comprises a plurality thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein each said at least one accessory engaging projection or socket comprises an accessory engaging projection or socket engageable with a corresponding socket or projection of the accessory mounting portion of the accessory.

15. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises a first said accessory mounting portion at a first extremity thereof and a second said accessory mounting portion at an opposite, second extremity thereof, and wherein, in use with the frame removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body at a first end of the item of seating furniture, the first said accessory mounting portion is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the first end, and wherein, in use with the frame removably, fixedly connected to an underside of a body at an opposite, second end of the item of seating furniture, the second said accessory mounting portion is accessible from the lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture at the second end.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mounting bracket is symmetrical about a plane extending through the frame midway between the first and second said accessory mounting portions.

17. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accessory comprises a side portion for abutting a side of the item of seating furniture, in use.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the accessory comprises a top portion that extends from an operatively upper end of the side portion to abut a seat of the item of seating furniture, in use.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the accessory comprises a substantially rigid frame comprising a first frame portion associated with the side portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the accessory comprises a substantially rigid frame comprising a first frame portion associated with the side portion and a second frame portion associated with the top portion.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein an operatively lower end of the first frame portion is configured to engage the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket.

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the first frame portion is located on or adjacent or is at least partially recessed in a side of the side portion that faces the side of the item of seating furniture, in use, and a side of the side portion opposite the first frame portion may be upholstered.

23. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the accessory mounting portion of the accessory is located at the operatively lower end of the frame of the accessory.

24. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accessory is an armrest.

25. A method of configuring an item of seating furniture to have an accessory secured to a body thereof, the method comprising: removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket of the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture.

26. A method of securing an accessory to a body of an item of seating furniture, the method comprising: removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket of the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims to an underside of a body of an item of seating furniture, such that the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket is accessible from a lateral extremity of the item of seating furniture; and engaging the accessory mounting portion of the accessory with the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket to secure the accessory to the mounting bracket and thereby to the item of seating furniture.

27. The method of claim 25 or claim 26, comprising removing a foot from the item of seating furniture prior to removably, fixedly connecting the frame of the mounting bracket to the underside of the body of the item of seating furniture and engaging the accessory mounting portion of the mounting bracket with the portion of the body from which the foot was removed.

28. An armrest, comprising: a side portion for abutting a side of an item of seating furniture, in use; a substantially rigid frame comprising a first frame portion associated with the side portion, an operatively lower end of the first frame portion being configured to engage an accessory mounting portion of the item of seating furniture to secure the armrest to the item of seating furniture.

29. The armrest of claim 28, wherein the first frame portion is located on or adjacent or is at least partially recessed in a side of the side portion that faces the side of the item of seating furniture, in use30. The armrest of claim 28 or claim 29, wherein a side of the side portion opposite the first frame portion is upholstered.

31. The armrest of any one of claims 28 to 30, further comprising a top portion that extends from an operatively upper end of the side portion to abut a seat of the item of seating furniture, in use.

32. The armrest of claim 31, wherein the frame of the armrest comprises a second frame portion associated with the top portion.

33. The armrest of claim 32, wherein the second frame portion is located on or adjacent or is at least partially recessed in a side of the top portion that faces the top of the item of seating furniture, in use.

34. The armrest of claim 32 or claim 33, wherein a side of the top portion opposite the second frame portion is upholstered.

35. The armrest of any one of claims 28 to 34, comprising one or more sockets, or one or more projections at the operatively lower end of the armrest frame for engagement with a corresponding one or more projections or one or more sockets of the accessory mounting portion to secure the armrest to the item of seating furniture.

36. An assembly comprising the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23 and the armrest of any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the armrest is the accessory and wherein the operatively lower end of the frame of the armrest comprises the accessory mounting portion of the accessory.

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